New aid, amounting to 1 billion euros, for the refugees hosted by , was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen from Ankara, where she met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the latest developments in .
During a joint press conference with President Erdogan, Ursula von der Leyen said that “an additional billion euros is on the way for 2024.” This amount will be allocated to cover the health care and education of refugees in Turkey, but also for the management of migration and borders, including the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, the President of the Commission said.
On Syria, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU should step up its “direct engagement” with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group in power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, as well as “other factions”. He also stressed that the EU and its partners will not allow the resurgence of the Islamic State in Syria. He added that “the Syrian people deserve a peaceful transition of power that preserves the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and that national unity should be respected and the rights of all minorities protected.
“Turkey has an essential role to play in stabilizing the region,” Von der Leyen then said. “Together we must remain vigilant against terrorism … and Turkey’s legitimate concerns must be addressed,” he said, stressing that all minorities in Syria must be safe.
Regarding the return of Syrian refugees back to their country, von der Leyen said that “all returns must be voluntary, safe and dignified”, noting that the EU is in contact with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure that all necessary conditions are met.
In addition, Von der Leyen underlined the importance of Euro-Turkish relations, which she said are “rich but also complex”, and “moving forward”. Indicative, he emphasized, is that on one of her first trips, at the beginning of her second term, she visits Ankara. “Our economic relationship is stronger than ever,” he said later, noting that trade between the EU and Turkey reached a record high of 206 billion euros last year. “The EU is Turkey’s largest trade and investment partner. Our intention is to strengthen it further,” he added. He also promised the Turkish president that the EU would continue discussions on the modernization of the customs union, noting, however, that “progress in this area requires stronger efforts.”
The Commission President also said that she discussed with the Turkish president the need to prevent the circumvention of sanctions against Russia. He also underlined that “it is important to restore talks with Cyprus within the framework of the UN”.
For his part, President Erdoğan emphasized that EU candidacy remains a “strategic goal” for Turkey, while underlining that the latest developments have strengthened Turkey’s position as a key country.
The Turkish president said he agrees with the European Commission that there should be a smooth political transition in Syria and a stable and inclusive government. He also added that there is no place for terrorist organizations in Syria, including the Islamic State and the Kurds. Finally, he said that he expects the EU to support the return of Syrians to their homeland.
